RHA calls for fuel tax cut for hauliers
Date: 12 September 2007
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The Road Haulage Association (RHA) has written to the government this week to urge the Treasury to cut fuel tax rises for hauliers.
According to Roadtransport.com, the organisation has asked that increases in the tax, due in October, 2007 and April, 2008, be waived for freight transport operators.
Director of policy Jack Semple said that "the industry is unanimous in its opposition to the increase because [they] think it will damage them directly or impact on customers", the website reports.
Since the duty rises were announced in Gordon Brown's last Budget as chancellor in March, there has been widespread concern in the freight industry that it will put UK operators at a disadvantage against European hauliers.
"In October, this will mean a fuel price differential of around 28ppl, a huge competitive benefit," Roger King from the RHA said back in July.
"All hauliers have to accommodate the world price of oil but only the UK singles out its own hauliers for punishment by taxation."
Roadtransport.com claims that this most recent letter highlights the two per cent increase on haulage operating costs fuel duty has prompted already this year, with a 44-tonne vehicle paying between £13,000 and £15,000 more than continental competitors.
Both the RHA and the Freight Transport Association cautiously welcomed Conservative proposals unveiled in August, which included a plan to charge foreign lorries to use UK roads.
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